Name
Percy John Dix Farmer (MSM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/04/1918
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Company Quartermaster Serjeant
15588
Royal Norfolk Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Meritorious Service Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WESTOUTRE BRITISH CEMETERY
Row K, Grave 14.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
THY WILL BE DONE
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour
Pre War
Son of Sarah (nee DIX) and the late George FARMER; husband of Evelyn (nee MACKLOW) FARMER of Enfield, Middx.
His parents married 8 February 1875 at St Thomas’, Marylebone, London. George died 1903 in the Edmonton, Middx, district aged 56. Sarah, with four of her children, emigrated to Cape Town, South Africa, 24 December 1919 aboard the Union Castle Line Llanstephen Castle aged 67.
Percy was born c1887 in Enfield, and was an organist and choirmaster at St Matthew’s Church, Ponders End, Middx. He married Evelyn Macklow on 5 March 1918 at St Andrew’s, Enfield.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1891 Census, aged 3 he lived in Enfield, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1901 Census, a barber’s assistant aged 13, he still lived in Enfield, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1911 Census, a broker’s Clerk aged 23, he still lived in Enfield, with his widowed mother and one sibling.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at St Paul’s Churchyard, London, for Short Service 7 September 1914: a sugar broker’s clerk aged 26, 5’8″ tall, unmarried, C of E. He served at Home 7 September 1914 to 29 August 1915, and in France from 30 August 1915 until his death.
He was promoted Corporal 22 October 1914, Sergeant 9 December 1914, and confirmed C.Q.M.S. 24 March 1915. He was originally buried in an isolated grave at the side of the road about 3¾ miles SSW of Poperinghe. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 30 August 1915, and was killed in action. He was gazetted 17 June 1918 for the Meritorious Service Medal.
Additional Information
His headstone inscription reads: "THY WILL BE DONE".
Percy's wife Evelyn died in the UK in 1963 and did not go out to South Africa. After Percy's father died his mother Sarah left the UK and settled in Cape Town, South Africa and died on 12 June 1934. Four of his siblings, namely Mary, Kate, Fred and Sydney also came out and settled in South Africa and all died here. Mary, his sister married an Edward Bennington who was caretaker at Groote Schuur (The official residence of the South African Prime Ministers when they were in Cape Town. Edward Bennington served 3 Prime Minsters Louis Botha, Jan Smuts and Cecil John Rhodes during his 30 year tenure as Caretaker.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Bryan Dix
